WHO WILL be the next governor of Negros Occidental?
This has become the most intriguing political question in the province, even though Gov. Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson still has 24 months left before he completes his third and final term.
The question has become a hot topic of discussion across the province’s 31 cities and municipalities amid reports of a possibility to dishonor what many consider a longstanding gentlemen’s agreement among Negros politicians.
It bears recalling that in 2019, when Lacson first ran for governor, the province’s two major political groups — Love Negros and the United Negros Alliance (UNegA) — forged a verbal agreement that helped unify Negros Occidental politically.
All of the province’s mayors agreed to the unwritten covenant — 16 from UNegA and 15 from Love Negros.
Under the agreement, from 2019 to 2028, the governor would come from Love Negros while the vice governor would come from UNegA. After that period, the arrangement would be reversed.
Among the prominent leaders of Love Negros are Bong Lacson and Bacolod Lone District Rep. Albee Benitez.
For UNegA, the leading figures include Negros Occidental 2nd District Rep. Alfredo “Thirdy” Marañon III, 4th District Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer, and Cadiz City Mayor Salvador “Bading” Escalante Jr., president of the Association of Chief Executives (ACE)-Negros.
If the gentlemen’s agreement is to be honored, then in the 2028 elections, the next governor should come from UNegA, with a Love Negros candidate running for vice governor.
PALABRA DE HONOR
But early political talks suggest the possibility of breaching the informal covenant forged a decade ago.
Enter Bong Lacson who, according to Albee Benitez, wants to maintain the status quo regarding the governor-vice governor arrangement agreed upon by the two political groups.
In short, Bong respects and honors the commitment that helped propel him to power.
He is, therefore, not an ingrate but a leader who values palabra de honor.
Palabra de honor is a Spanish term that literally means “word of honor.”
According to Collins Dictionary, it is a declaration used to strongly assure someone that you are telling the truth or that you will absolutely fulfill a promise.
In the Philippines and throughout Latin America, it embodies the virtue of being true to one’s word — “isang salita.”
‘HONOR YOUR COMMITMENT’
With Lacson stressing that their informal covenant must be upheld, one thing becomes clear: such an agreement cannot simply be brushed aside by what many may view as unrealistic political ambitions.
Honoring a commitment reflects integrity and authenticity.
More importantly, it demonstrates consistency between one’s values and one’s actions.
Thus, Bong’s statements regarding the agreement between Love Negros and UNegA serve as a reminder to all 31 mayors in the province: honor your commitments.
Honoring commitments builds trust and fosters self-respect.
Lacson is correct in insisting that their gentlemen’s agreement should not be destroyed.
In conversations with several mayors of Negros Occidental, they expressed unanimous support for the governor’s position.
One Love Negros mayor put it bluntly:
“We respect our unsigned covenant forged 10 years ago. It’s UNegA’s time for the governorship in 2028.”
‘POLITICAL BUBBLES’
In an interview with Bacolod-based media, Albee said that during their June 8 meeting with top UNegA leaders, they initially agreed to support a single common candidate for governor.
Who will that candidate be?
According to Albee, no definite choice has been made yet.
However, the former Bacolod mayor also declined to answer whether that candidate would necessarily come from UNegA.
His silence immediately generated political speculation across Negros Occidental.
REALITY CHECK
Now comes the crucial question: If Bong wants to preserve the gentlemen’s agreement, will Albee be willing to uphold it, too?
Negrenses are watching.
They are waiting.
Yes, it is true that Philippine politics is often driven by fluid interests.
Strict ideological loyalty is almost nonexistent.
As the old political adage goes: “There are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.”
But many would argue that Negros Occidental is different.
Its politicians and voters alike place great value on keeping one’s word.
They appreciate what they regard as a simple but enduring truth — integrity matters.
Negrenses do not care how powerful or influential a politician may be once that politician begins to violate a commitment.
Their pride is non-negotiable.
Their sense of self-worth matters.
Break faith, go back on your word, and expect consequences.
Keep your promise, and Negrenses will respect you.
It is as simple as that.
Political philosopher Hannah Arendt once observed:
“Promises are the uniquely human way of ordering the future, making it predictable and reliable to the extent that this is humanly possible.”
That observation remains relevant today.
After all, good intentions become meaningless when promises are not fulfilled.
So whether the covenant between UNegA and Love Negros was merely a gentlemen’s agreement — unsigned and informal — there was still mutual consent. Both parties understood the terms and voluntarily agreed to them.
For many, that alone makes the agreement morally binding.
Because, in the end, a deal is a deal.
Whether it is written on paper or sealed with a handshake, an agreement remains an agreement.
If UNegA and Love Negros accepted the core terms of their covenant, then dishonoring or abandoning it can reasonably be viewed as a breach of trust — or, in the strongest political sense of the term, an act of betrayal.
And if such betrayal were ever to occur, one may reflect on the words of French statesman, journalist, and physician Georges Clemenceau, who once said:
“I have learned to hate all traitors, and there is no disease that I spit on more than treachery.”
Strong words, certainly.
But in the world of politics, many would find them painfully relatable./PN
